Yep it sucks! This is the 3rd Sunday in a row I've had to get up just before 3 am. The only way I get through it is going to Tesco on the Saturday and bulk buying treats to get me through . Currently tucking into hot cross buns - yum

I hated them. I did then for 17 years including about 4 years where I did only nights to fit around the children. Messed up my mental health and sleep patterns; only realised to what extent after I left midwifery. Four am was the witching hour for me (one night I dozed off and nearly fell into a birthing pool!) yanbu but you are doing great to keep going. Sleep well.

I quite like a night shift but I've done far too many these past couple of months and my sleeping pattern and willingness to cook food and go to the gym and clean the house is all completely rogered. And yes, random outbursts of crying and misery the evening after a night is a common occurrence I am about to have the perfectly timed finish to my night shift though, we are going to get back to base early enough to go home on time but late enough the day team will feel sorry for us and restock all our kit so we can leave!

The only thing I liked about nights was there were no interfering managers on duty I did do permanent nights for three yrs after ds1 was born bit this was on a dementia care ward so once the men were in bed after midnight it was generally very quiet.

4am was my worst hour too. Hated the shift as a whole, but 4am more than any other part.

I used to do 1300-2100 shift with 2100-0800 stand by followed by 0800-1300 shift. We were allowed to sleep on the stand by in an on call room if there were no emergency cases but I could never drop off for fear of not waking if my bleep went off. If I did sleep is have the weirdest, most vivid dreams. Being in the hospital for 24hrs straight was horrible.

Thanks x2boys. I agree, there is no pattern at all to mine. Managed no night shifts in November but clearly paying for it now! I am now home though and have managed to wake DP, who suggested going out for breakfast as I'm in such a foul mood and need to stay awake, and sitting at home I'm likely to doze off. Pleased about the food but still feeling grumpy

Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels like this! Awful awful shifts.

They are also awful for your partner and kids. Our house needs a spare wing for DH to sleep in on nights. Sadly it doesn't have one and we all tiptoe about. EVERYTHING I need is always in the wrong bastard place.